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Since first announced on January 10 this year, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro has been an intriguing and highly anticipated mesh system. As it finally becomes available for purchase, I’d say it’s worth the wait—a completely different experience from the similar yet anticlimactic hardware that is the TP-Link Deco BE95.
Indeed, the Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the first Wi-Fi broadcaster that has everything of the Wi-Fi 7 standard, including support for the impactful AFC and MLO features. Additionally, featuring the latest AsusWRT 5.0 firmware, it also has everything in features and network settings one would expect and then some. Most importantly, in my testing, it proved an all-around excellent home networking machine.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’ve been holding your breath for the Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that covers all the bases of your home network, literally and figuratively, the wait is finally over with the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. The new mesh is totally worth its hefty retail price tag of $1299.99 for a 2-pack—street price will vary.
Best Buy exclusively offers a 3-pack for $1699.99, called ZenWiFi BE33000, and a single-unit option will be available in a couple of months for $699.99.
On the other hand, like all of Asus’s new hardware, the system likely will need a few rounds of firmware updates to be bug-free. So, it might be wise to wait a bit, and hopefully, the price will come down, too.
Dong’s note: I first published this post as a new piece on January 10, 2024, and updated it on May 30, 2024, to an in-depth review after weekslong hands-on testing.
Asus Wi-Fi 7 BQ16/Pro: The first complete Wi-Fi 7, true multi-Gigabit experience
Like the case of the recently available GT-BE98 Pro gaming standalone AiMesh router, the BQ16—the first member of Asus’s new Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi BQ series that will include more hardware options down the line—is also available in two variants: the BQ16 Pro and BQ16.
The two are identical quad-band hardware with one exception: The BQ16 Pro has two 6GHz bands, and the non-Pro BQ16 has two 5GHz bands—they use band-splitting in different frequencies. The former is for the U.S. market, which I used for this review, but you can expect the latter, available elsewhere, to deliver a similar experience.
This practice is likely caused by the fact the 6GHz frequency is more complicated in terms of regulations and adoption in different parts of the world than the 5GHz band, which has been available for Wi-Fi for years. For the same reason, Asus recently introduced the RT-BE88U, which forgoes the band altogether. In that sense, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is more “special” than the non-Pro version. It has double the 6GHz privilege.
The 6GHz journey: Curious about how the 6GHz is available around the world? Open the drawer below.
The adoption of the 6GHz Wi-Fi
The 6GHz band has a total width of 1200MHz, ranging from 5.925GHz to 7.125GHz, and is divided into 59 channels of 20MHz each. These channels are grouped to create “sub-bands,” which also vary from one region to another.
In the U.S., the FCC has designated four sub-bands across the entire spectrum, including U-NII-5, U-UNII-6, UNII-7, and UNII-8, for Wi-Fi use, though portions of the band may be reserved for other applications. The E.U. Commission, on the other hand, allows only the U-NII-5 equivalent part of the frequency, or 480MHz in width, for Wi-Fi.
The use of the 6GHz frequency is complicated. Generally, Wi-Fi 6E needs a 160MHz channel to deliver the best performance, and Wi-Fi 7 requires double that, 320MHz. Due to spectrum availability and other reasons, real-world hardware tends to use narrower channels in most cases.
The table below shows its current adoption worldwide. The “Considering” potion is generally slated to be finalized by the end of January 2025.
| Country | Status | Spectrum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Andorra | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Argentina | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Australia | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Austria | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Bahrain | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Belgium | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Brazil | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| CEPT | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Canada | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Chile | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Colombia | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Costa Rica | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Dominican Republic | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Egypt | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| El Salvador | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| European Union | Adopted | 5945-6425 MHz |
| Faroe Islands | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| France | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Germany | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Gibraltar | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Guatemala | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Honduras | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Hong Kong | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Iceland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Ireland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Isle of Man | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Japan | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Jordan | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Kenya | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Liechtenstein | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Luxembourg | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Malaysia | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Mauritius | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Mexico | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Monaco | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Morocco | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Namibia | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Netherlands | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| New Zealand | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Norway | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Oman | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Peru | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Portugal | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Qatar | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Russian Federation | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Saudi Arabia | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Singapore | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| South Africa | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| South Korea | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Spain | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Switzerland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Thailand | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Togo | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Tunisia | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Turkey | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| United Arab Emirates | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| United Kingdom | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
With that out of the way, the new mesh hardware is the most powerful in the ZenWiFi family to date. It features top-tier Wi-Fi 7—up to 30000 Mbps of total bandwidth, 320MHz channel width, 4K-QAM, Multi-Link Operation, and other standard goodies—and is the first to come with two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports.
Most importantly, it’s the first hardware to feature all of Wi-Fi 7’s goodness, including AFC, which makes the 6GHz range comparable to that of the 5GHz, which is a huge deal. And that proved to be the case in my trial.
A quick refresher: If you’re new to Wi-Fi 7, the cabinet below will give you a crash course on the new standard that was ratified on the first business day of 2024.
Wi-Fi 7’s highlights
Wi-Fi 7 offers five significant improvements over the previous standards. The first two are available immediately, while the rest are optional and might need time—at least till late 2024—to gradually materialize in both broadcasters and clients. The ZenWiFi BE16 Pro is the first broadcaster to feature all of these features at launch.
1. The all-new 320MHz channel width
The first thing to note about Wi-Fi 7 is the new and much wider channel width, up to 320MHz, or double that of Wi-Fi 6/6E.
This new channel width is generally available on the 6GHz band, with up to three 320MHz channels. However, Wi-Fi 7 can also combine portions of the 6GHz and 5GHz bands to create this new bandwidth—more in the Multi-Link Operation section below.
Details of Wi-Fi channels can be found here, but the new channel width generally means Wi-Fi 7 can double the base speed, from 1.2Gbps per stream (160MHz) to 2.4Gbps per stream (320MHz).
So, in theory, just from the width alone, a 4×4 broadcaster 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 can have up to 9.6 Gbps of bandwidth—or 10Gbps when rounded up. But there’s more to Wi-Fi 7’s bandwidth below.
Wi-Fi 7 also supports double the partial streams, up to 16. As a result, technically, a 16-stream (16×16) Wi-Fi 7 6GHz band can deliver up to over 40Gbps of bandwidth, especially when considering the new QAM support below.
Like Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, initially, Wi-Fi 7 will be available as dual-stream (2×2) and quad-stream (4×4) broadcasters and dual-stream clients. In the future, the standard might have 8×8 broadcasters and single-stream or quad-stream clients.
Again, you need a compatible client to use the new 320MHz channel width. Existing clients will connect using 160MHz at best. In reality, the 160MHz will likely be the realistic sweet-spot bandwidth of Wi-Fi 7, just like the 80MHz in the case of Wi-Fi 6.
2. The 4K-QAM
QAM, short for quadrature amplitude modulation, manipulates the radio wave to pack more information in the Hertz.
Wi-Fi 6 supports 1024-QAM, which itself is already impressive. However, Wi-Fi 7 will have four times that, or 4096-QAM. Greater QAM means better performance for the same channel width.
As a result, Wi-Fi 7 will be much faster and more efficient than previous standards when working with supported clients.
Wi-F 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6/6E: The realistic real-world speeds
With the support for the wider channel width and higher QAM, Wi-Fi 7 is set to be much faster than previous standards on paper.
You might have read somewhere that Wi-Fi 7 is “up to 4.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 6,” and hardware vendors will continue to combine the theoretical bandwidth of a broadcaster’s all bands into a single colossal number—such as BE19000, BE22000, or BE33000—which is excellent for advertising.
Like always, these numbers don’t mean much, and things are not that simple. In reality, a Wi-Fi connection generally happens on a single band at a time—that’s always true for Wi-Fi 6E and older clients—and is also limited by the client’s specs.
The table below summarizes what you can expect from Wi-Fi 7’s real-world organic performance compared to Wi-Fi 6E when working on the 6GHz.
| Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | |
| Max Channel Bandwidth (theoretical/top-tier equipment) | 160MHz | 320MHz |
| Channel Bandwidth (widely implemented) | 80MHz | 160MHz |
| Number of Available Channels | 7x 160MHz, or 14x 80MHz channels | 3x 320MHz, or 7x 160MHz channels, or 14x 80MHz channels |
| Highest Modulation | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM |
| Max Number of Spatial Streams (theoretical on paper / commercially implemented) | 8 / 4 | 16 / 8 (estimate) |
| Max Bandwidth Per Stream (theoretical) | 1.2Gbps (at 160MHz) 600Mbps (at 80MHz) | ≈ 2.9Gbps (at 320MHz) ≈ 1.45Gbps (at 160MHz) |
| Max Band Bandwidth (theoretical on paper) | 9.6Gbps (8×8) | 46.1Gbps (16×16) |
| Commercial Max Band Bandwidth Per Band (commercially implemented) | 4.8Gbps (4×4) | 23Gbps (8×8), or 11.5Gbps (4×4) |
| Available Max Real-word Negotiated Speeds(*) | 2.4Gbps (via a 2×2 160MHz client) 1.2Gbps (via a 2×2 80MHz client) | ≈ 11.5Gbps (via a 4×4 320MHz client) ≈ 5.8Gbps (via a 2×2 320MHz client or a 4×4 160MHz client) ≈ 2.9Gbps (via a single stream 320MHz client or a 2×2 160MHz client) ≈ 1.45Gbps (via a single stream 160MHz client or a 2×2 80MHz client) |
| Available Clients (example) | 2×2 (Intel AX210) | 2×2 (Intel BE200 / Qualcomm NCM865) |
(*) The actual negotiated speed depends on the client, Wi-Fi 7 specs, and environment. Real-world sustained rates are generally much lower than negotiated speeds—capping at about two-thirds at best. Wi-Fi 6/6E has had only 2×2 clients. Wi-Fi 7 will also use 2×2 clients primarily, but it might have 4×4 and even single-stream (1×1) clients.
Like Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, Wi-Fi 7 has been available only in 2×2 specs on the client side. That, plus the sweet-spot 160MHz channel width, means, generally, it’s safe to conservatively expect real-world rates of the mainstream Wi-Fi 7 (160MHz) to be about 20% faster than top-tier Wi-Fi 6E (160MHz) counterparts.
However, the new standard does have more bandwidth on the broadcasting side. So, it can handle more 2×2 clients simultaneously with high-speed real-world rates. And that’s always a good thing.
3. Multi-Link Operation
Multi-Link Operation, or MLO, is the most exciting and promising feature of Wi-Fi 7 that changes the norm of Wi-Fi: Up to Wi-Fi 6E, a Wi-Fi connection between two direct devices occurs in a single band, using a fixed channel at a time—they use a single link to transmit data.
It’s worth noting that MLO is a feature and not the base of the standard, meaning it can be supported by a particular device or not.
In a nutshell, MLO is Wi-Fi band aggregation. Like Link Aggregation (or bonding) in wired networking, it allows combining two or more Wi-Fi bands into a single Wi-Fi link—one SSID and connection.
There are two MLO operation modes:
- STR-MLMR MLO (Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Multi-Link Multi-Radio): It’s multi-link aggregation using all three bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) to deliver higher throughput, lower latency, and better reliability.
- E-MLSR MLO (Enhanced Multi-Link Single Radio): It’s multi-link using dynamic band switching between 5GHz and 6GHz to deliver load balancing and lower latency.
No matter which mode is used, the gist is that the bonded link delivers “better” connection quality and “more” bandwidth.
It’s important to note, though, that at the end of the day, MLO increases the bandwidth, allowing different applications on a client to use the two bands simultaneously. The point here is that no application on the client can have a connection speed faster than the fastest band involved. A speedtest application, for example, still uses one of the bands at a time. This connection speed is still limited by the hardware specs on both ends of the link, whichever is lower.
So, the MLO feature affords a supported client the best probability of connecting successfully at the highest possible speed using the fastest band at any given time, which changes depending on the distance between the client and the broadcaster.
In so-far real-world experience, MLO has proven to be a game-changer in a wireless mesh network by fortifying the Wi-Fi link between broadcasters—the backhaul—both in terms of speed and reliability. Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems, via my testing method, have shown sustained wireless backhauling links over 5Gbps at 40 feet away. In systems with wired backhauling, MLO plays a small role and generally only increases the speeds to individual clients—currently available at 2×2 specs, such as the Intel BE200 or Qualcomm NCM865 as the highest—by a small margin, if any at all.
That said, for clients, MLO is the better alternative to the finicky “Smart Connect“, where a single SSID is used for all of the broadcaster’s bands. In fact, you can think of MLO as the enhanced version of Smart Connect.
Some hardware vendors, such as Linksys or Asus, require Smart Connect for their broadcaster’s primary SSID before MLO can be turned on. As a result, users will need to use the hardware’s virtual SSIDs—Asus has plenty of them via its SDN feature—to segment the network, especially to support legacy clients. In this case, with MLO, you have to choose between the following in terms of SSIDs:
- Having a primary SSID (via Smart Connect), which is not MLO-enabled, and an optional 2nd virtual MLO-enabled SSID. Or
- Turning off Smart Connect to manage the band individually and losing the MLO option.
Others, such as TP-Link, always use MLO as a secondary virtual SSID, which is the way they handle Guest or IoT SSIDs.
In any case, keep the following in mind about this feature:
- By nature, link bonding will be more complicated than single-band connectivity—there are just too many variables.
- MLO only works with supported Wi-Fi 7 clients. Some Wi-Fi 7 clients might not support it. Considering the different performance grades and hardware variants, the result of MLO will vary case by case.
- Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and older clients will still use a single band at a time when connecting to a MLO SSID. And they might pick whichever of those is available in the bonded link. And you might get frustrated when they use the slow band instead of a faster one, like the case of Smart Connect. That happens.
- An MLO SSID requires the WPA2/WPA3 or WPA3 encryption method and won’t allow Wi-Fi 5 and older clients to connect. This can be a big headache for those assuming the SSID will just work with all clients.
- The reach of the bonded wireless link is as far as the range of the shorter band.
The point is that MLO is best used only when you have all Wi-Fi 7 clients, which won’t be the case until years from now.
In terms of range, the bonded link has the reach of the shortest band involved. Since the 6GHz band has just about 75% of the range of the 5GHz when the same broadcasting power is applied, MLO can only be truly meaningful with the help of Wi-Fi 7’s fifth and optional feature, Automated Frequency Coordination, mentioned below.
4. Flexible Channel Utilization (FCU) and Multi-RU
Flexible Channel Utilization (FCU) (a.k.a. Preamble Puncturing) and Multi-RU are two other items that help increase Wi-Fi 7’s efficiency.
With FCU, Wi-Fi 7 handles interference more gracefully by slicing off the portion of a channel with interference, 20MHz at a time, and keeping the clean part usable.
In contrast, in Wi-Fi 6/6E, when there’s interference, an entire channel can be taken out of commission. FCU is the behind-the-scenes technology that increases Wi-Fi’s efficiency, similar to the case of MU-MIMO and OFDMA.
Similarly, with Wi-Fi 6/6E, each device can only send or receive frames on an assigned resource unit (RU), which significantly limits the flexibility of the spectrum resource scheduling. Wi-Fi 7 allows multiple RUs to be given to a single device and can combine RUs for increased transmission efficiency.
5. Automated Frequency Coordination
Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) is an optional feature and deals with the 6GHz band, so it’s not Wi-Fi 7-exclusive—the band was first used with Wi-Fi 6E. It’s not required for a Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster’s general function. In fact, it wasn’t even mentioned in the initial certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Due to local regulations, the 6GHz band’s availability differs around the world. For this reason, some Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters will not adopt it and will remain Dual-band.
Still, Wi-Fi 7 makes AFC more relevant than ever. That’s because the 6GHz band has the highest bandwidth (fastest) yet the shortest range compared to the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands when using the maximum allowed broadcasting power. Originally, AFC was intended only for outdoor applications, but when implemented, it’s significant for all applications.
Here’s how AFC would work when/if available:
The feature enables a 6GHz broadcaster to check with a registered database in real-time to confirm that its operation will not negatively impact other existing registered members. Once that’s established, the broadcaster creates a dynamically exclusive environment in which its 6GHz band can operate without the constraint of regulations.
Specifically, the support for AFC means each Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster can use more broadcasting power and better flexible antenna designs. How much more? That depends.
However, it’s estimated that AFC can increase the broadcasting power to 36 dBm (from the current 30 dBm limit) or 4 watts (from 1 wat). The goal of AFC is to make the range of the 6GHz band comparable to that of the 5GHz band—about 25% more.
When that happens, the MLO feature above will be truly powerful. But even then, Wi-Fi 7’s range will remain the same as that of Wi-Fi 6, which is available only on the 5GHz band. Its improvement is that its 6GHz band now has a more extended reach than in Wi-Fi 6E. In other words, AFC allows the 6GHz band to have at least the same range as the 5GHz. And that’s significant.
This feature requires certification, and its availability is expected to vary from one region to another. Hardware released before that is said to be capable of handling AFC, which, when applicable, can be turned on via firmware updates.
A crude AFC analogy
Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) is like checking with the local authorities for permission to close off sections of city streets for a drag race block party.
When approved, the usual traffic and parking laws no longer apply to the area, and the organizers can determine how fast traffic can flow, etc.
Each Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro mesh router is quite huge and has a good heft—that’s a large hand. Still, it’s significantly more compact and lighter than competing Wi-Fi 7 hardware of similar caliber, such as the TP-Link Deco BE95 or the Netgear RS700S, while remaining fanless.
The only-two-multi-gigabit-port blue
As mentioned, each ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro unit has two 10Gbps ports and three Gigabit ports. That’s disappointing, considering the Deco BE95 goes all Multi-Gig ports plus the support for SFP+.
Still, two 10Gbps ports are a fundamental step up from having just one. With them, new ZenWiFi hardware enables users to have a robust multi-Gigabit network. Specifically, you can:
- Have a 10Gbps wired connection out of a single ZenWiFi BQ16 unit using two multi-Gigabit wired devices.
- Daisy-chain multiple units with 10Gbps wired backhauling.
- Host a 10Gbps broadband connection and a 10Gbps switch to the router (or a wired satellite) and increase the number of supported multi-Gigabit wired devices within the network.
- Run a Dual-WAN setup with one of the WANs being up to 10Gbps.
Additionally, in a wireless backhauling configuration, the MLO feature can help improve the link between hardware units. Overall, the ZenWiFi has the most bandwidth to offer to date, and with some effort, such as a switch, it can help up a home’s network to the fastest possible. Additionally, it has many more features to offer than the TP-Link counterpart, all of which are free.
The table below shows the final hardware specs of the new ZenWiFi BQ16 and the TP-Link Deco BE95.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro vs. BQ16: Hardware specifications
| Asus ZenWiFi BQ 16 Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | TP-Link Deco BE95 BE33000 quad-band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Model | ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro | Deco BE95 |
| Antennas | 13 internal | 12 internal |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Quad-band BE33000 | |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM (all bands) | |
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz: up to 1376Mbps (20/40MHz) | |
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz: up to 5762Mbps (20/40/80/160/240MHz) | |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz-1: up to 11,525Mbps (lower channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| 4th Band (channel width) | 6GHz-2: up to 11,525Mbps (upper channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| Mesh Availablity (at launch) | 2-pack, 3-pack, (identical routers) | |
| Mesh Technology | AiMesh with AsusWRT 5.0 | TP-Link Deco |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN | 2x 2.5Gbps 1x 10Gbps 1x 10Gbps / SFP+ Combo (all ports are WAN/LAN auto-sensing) |
| Gigabit Port | 1x Gigabit WAN/LAN, 2x Gigabit LAN | None |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | |
| Network Features | Web User Interface Asus Mobile App with Smart Home Master | |
| Dimensions (each unit) | 8.43 x 14.12 x 2.83 in (214 x 174.2 x 72 mm?) | 5.04 × 5.04 × 9.29 in (128 × 128 × 236 mm) |
| Weight (each unit) | 2.79 lbs (1.27 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.5kg) |
| Internal Fan | No | Yes |
| Processing Power | 2GB DDR4 RAM, 256MB Flash | Undisclosed |
| Hardware Availability (at launch) | 2-pack or 3-pack (identical routers) | |
| Web User Interface | Yes (full) | Yes (limited-unavailable without the mobile app) |
| Mobile App | Asus Router (optional but can replace the Web UI) | TP-Link Deco (required) |
| Free Features | Standard network settings, Dynamic DNS, Dual-WAN/Link Aggregation Online Protection via AiProtection, Parental Controls, Advanced VPNs with VPN Fusion and Instant Guard, Smart Home Master (virtual SSIDs) | Standard network settings, Dynamic DNS, Basic security, Basic parental control, Standard OpenVPN |
| Add-on Features (paid subscriptions) | None | Security+, Advanced Parental Controls, Total Protection |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | Yes (at launch) | unavailable at launch (possibly to be added via firmware) |
| Firmware Version (at review) | 3.0.0.6.102_34995 | 1.0.14 Build 20231124 |
| DC Power Adapter | 100~240 V | |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 530 Wh (measured at router unit) | ≈ 535 Wh (measured at router unit) |
| U.S. Release Date | May 26, 2024 | November 23, 2023 |
| Availability | North America | Worldwide |
| U.S. Price (at launch) | $1299.99 (2-pack) $699.99 (single router) | $1199.99 (2-pack) $1799.99 (3-pack) $599.99 (single router) |
A familiar ZenWiFi set, now with SmartHaul, Smart Home Master, and most importantly, AFC
Like all previous ZenWiFi hardware, the new BQ16 Pro uses the popular AiMesh feature to be compatible with all of its existing mesh-ready broadcasters. Generally, though, you should only use it with Wi-Fi 7 hardware. Otherwise, you might lose some of its significant improvements, including what Asus calls “Smarthaul” and “Smart Home Master.”
The former is basically the fact that the new mesh system features a Wi-Fi 7 MLO feature, which allows it to have super high bandwidth for both back- and front-hauling simultaneously. If you mix it with older hardware, such as those of Wi-Fi 6 or 6E standard, MLO is no longer.
The latter, in a nutshell, is the latest capability of the AsusWRT 5.0 firmware that enables the hardware to deliver multiple virtual SSIDs to fit different scenarios. It’s the self-defined network (SDN) feature in the ExpertWiFi family but without the business-related “scenarios.” The gist is that you can have multiple SSIDs to segment your network, and that’s quite significant considering the MLO feature—more below.
AsusWRT has so far gone through five major versions, including:
- AsusWRT 1.0: Available in pre-Wi-Fi 4 routers. It’s the initial Asuswrt firmware with the 3.0.0.4 kernel.
- AsusWRT 2.0: Available with Wi-Fi 4 hardware and added support for USB storage.
- AsusWRT 3.0: Available in Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 hardware and added the support for AiMesh starting with version 3.0.0.4.384.xxx.
- AsusWRT 4.0: This version is available primarily in Wi-Fi 6 and 6E hardware, starting with version 3.0.0.04.386.xxx. It added multiple levels of gaming and security. It’s the last version with the 3.0.0.4 kernel.
- AsusWRT 5.0: This version was first available in late 2023 in Asus’s latest hardware, such as the new ExpertWiFi family and Wi-Fi 7 hardware. It uses the new 3.0.0.6 kernel. Among other improvements, it supports self-defined networks, advanced VPN, Gaming networks, and more.
The self-defined network (SDN) feature in AsusWRT 5.0 allows users to create multiple virtual SSIDs that fit different scenarios, such as office space, Guest Wi-Fi, IoT, etc. This feature has different names:
- SDN in Asus’s new ExptertWiFi business hardware.
- Guest Network Pro in its ROG gaming and high-end RT models.
- Smart Home Master in the Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi lineup.
What’s most significant is that the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the very first Wi-Fi 7 hardware with a working AFC. As a result, its 6GHz band has the same range as the 5GHz band, and that was the case in my testing.
Other than that, the new mesh system shares the common core features available in all hardware that uses the same firmware. Consequently, you can expect a robust web user interface with lots of advanced settings, including (and not limited to):
- Safe Browsing with DNS filters via specific servers
- Comprehensive Parental Controls and advanced VPN feature set, which includes VPN Fusion and Instant Guard.
- Advanced QoS and online protection (via AiProtection) to keep your network and devices safe.
That said, if you’ve used an Asus router before, you’ll feel at home with the new ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. In fact, in my trial, the hardware showed that it also supported universal restoration, meaning you can load the setting backup files of most existing Asus routers on it, making it super convenient for an upgrade.
Overall, the only thing I found quite different is the Wi-Fi settings—more specifically, the way you handle the router’s many SSIDs. Let’s take a closer look.
Flexible, straightforward, yet complicated Wi-Fi settings
As mentioned, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro features Wi-Fi 7’s MLO feature. MLO can combine multiple bands into a single bonded link to deliver higher bandwidth and better signal quality.
The way MLO works requires the router to use Smart Connect—you must combine all of its bands into a single SSID for the primary Wi-Fi network. If you want to use each band as a separate SSID, you’ll first need to turn the MLO off and vice versa.
If you use a single ZenWiFi BE16 Pro as a standalone router, things are relatively simple: You can use MLO or not. On the other hand, if you use more than one unit in a mesh system, things can get complicated. That’s because the system has different backhaul settings depending on how you arrange the hardware units. As a result, the Wi-Fi availability might vary at a satellite unit, specifically:
- If you choose to turn MLO off, the system automatically uses one of the 6GHz bands (the 6GHz-1) as the satellite’s dedicated backhaul in a wireless setup. This band is only available to clients at the router unit. However, if you choose wired backhauling, all bands can be made available for clients.
- If you choose to use MLO, the MLO link will work as the fronthaul and backhaul for the entire system in a wireless setup. In a wired backhauling setup, this link only works for clients. You can also create a second MLO-enabled virtual SSD.
- With or without MLO, the hardware comes with multiple options for virtual SSIDs such as IoT, Guest network, Kids network, VPN network, etc. for different options. Any of these virtual networks can be set as part of the primary network (intranet enabled) or isolated. These SSIDs can be made available only at the router or also at one or all satellite units.
It’s worth noting that the router takes a pretty long time, up to a few minutes, to apply new Wi-Fi settings, such as turning MLO on or off, adding/removing a virtual SSID, and so on. During this time, the network is unavailable.
Generally, you can use the initial setup wizard’s default settings (which has MLO enabled by default) and use the system that way. In this case, the initial setup process, which is similar to that of any AiMesh router or system, will take about 10 minutes. However, if you want to try out all the different settings and available options of the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro’s Smart Home Master, that could take hours if not days. I speak from experience.
ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro: Best Wi-Fi performance to date
I tested a 2-pack ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro for a couple of weeks and was really impressed. As the first hardware to officially support all Wi-Fi 7 features, the new mesh system, powered by a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, showed how the new standard is indeed a game changer in wireless connectivity.
The first noteworthy item is that thanks to AFC, its 6GHz band now has the same range as the 5GHz band. I used Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 clients to measure the reach, and the two bands consistently showed the same signal strength at the exact distances, including behind walls. Broadcom didn’t reveal the details of its chip’s AFC, but the boost in the range of the 6GHz band was evident with the ZenWiFi BE16 Pro. And that helped boost the significance of the MLO feature a great deal.
My Wi-Fi 7 test clients, running the Intel BE200 and Qualcomm NCM865 adapters, support MLO as long as they run Windows 11 24H2 or later. I tested a few of them with the early version of the OS, and they all indicated that they connected at the increased aggregated negotiated speed. However, as shown in the charts, the MLO feature has only minor impacts on these clients’ real-world speeds. Instead, it significantly increases the backhaul link’s bandwidth of the broadcasters.
Specifically, from over 40 feet (12 m) away, the satellite connected to the primary router at a sustained speed of over 6.5 Gbps via an MLO link, the fastest I’ve seen so far. Even with MLO turned off, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro’s 6GHz backhaul link was also speedier than the previous hardware, likely thanks to the AFC feature.
The new mesh was also excellent when hosting clients. As a router or wired satellite, via a 10GBASE-T backhaul link, it was the first to break the 3Gbps barrier of sustained rates via a 2×2 Wi-Fi 7 client. In fact, the hardware was consistently the fastest when hosting clients of any previous Wi-Fi standards.
I tested both with and without MLO and as a wireless satellite, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro was also the fastest to date, topping the charts in almost all scenarios.
Thanks to AFC and MLO, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro also delivers excellent range. It’s tricky to put the range in a concrete number, but generally, if you leave a single unit at the center, it can handle around 2500 ft2 (232 m2) of space. Your mileage will vary, but you can use that to figure out how many units you’ll need. In most cases, the 2-pack is a great way to start since you can easily add more later if necessary.
In any case, note that while the 6GHz band’s range is increased, it’s not further than the 5GHz band or especially the 2.4GHz band. Still, the band’s farther reach and the MLO-bonded link will help clients at far distances have a more meaningful connection with the broadcaster.
As a single router or a 2-pack mesh, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro passed my 3-day stress tests without any disconnection. It proved to be reliable. The hardware also remained relatively cool during my entire trial despite having no internal fan. Even during heavy operation, it was much less warm to the touch than the Deo BE95, which is larger and comes with a relatively noisy fan.
But, the ZenWiFi is not perfect, either.
Subdued, though relatively fast, network-attached storage performance; a bit buggy
Like most new routers from Asus, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro was a bit buggy during my trial. A couple of things to note:
- As mentioned above, the hardware can take a long time to restart to apply new settings, and many settings require a restart. Often, removing a guest network, turning the MLO on or off, or switching from wired backhauling to wireless could cause the system to be offline for a few minutes.
- Some settings didn’t apply correctly. For example, the “access intranet” option, which allows a virtual SSID to be part of the main network (instead of being isolated), intermittently behaves oppositely.
- My 2-pack system wasn’t pre-synced like previous ZenWiFi sets—I had to add the satellite manually to form a mesh system. Asus confirmed that that wasn’t representative of how the hardware should work.
Most of these are minors and will likely be worked out via future firmware releases, and Asus said it would release a new version imminently. That’s often the case with Asus Wi-Fi hardware, partly because it tends to have lots of features and settings to account for. The ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the first that has everything Wi-Fi 7 offers, and as a result, for now, its setup process alone can be a pain for those who are not patient enough to wait for things to happen.
Note: If you intend to mix the ZenWiFi BE16 Pro with other AiMesh Wi-Fi 7 hardware, such as the GT-BE98 Pro, to form the “ultimate” gaming mesh, it’s not yet time. The combo will work if you use wired backhauling (recommended) with MLO turned off. If you intend to use MLO as the wireless link, it’s best to wait until all the kinks are worked out before opting for a mixed hardware setup.
One thing will likely remain the same, however: the router’s performance when hosting a portable SSD as its storage. I tested it with a 4TB SanDisk Extreme Pro, and the performance was modest considering the 10Gbps LAN port.
The router unit had sustained write and read speeds of around 130 MB/s and 175 MB/s, respectively. That was pretty fast until you compared it to other multi-Gigabit routers on the charts, including the TP-Link Deco BE95. At these rates, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro can pass for casual network storage needs. If you want more, it’s better to get a real NAS server.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro's Rating
Pros
Top quad-band Wi-Fi 7 specs with all features (including AFC and MLO) to deliver best-to-date real-world performance both in throughputs and coverage; two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports
The latest AsusWRT 5.0 has lots of customizations and free-for-life high-end features (VPN, Parental Controls, Online Protection, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, Smart Home Master, etc.).
Robust web user interface and helpful optional mobile app; easy-to-blend-in design
Comparatively compact with no internal fan
Cons
Comparatively expensive; numerous settings require a lengthy restart to apply
Only two Multi-Gig ports
Not wall-mount-ready
Conclusion
The Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is easily the best home mesh system to date. It combines a vast amount of valuable features with the currently fastest performance into a relatively compact, aesthetically pleasant package.
While its top performance might not hold the record for long, considering more hardware with AFC and MLO will be released (or enabled via firmware updates), it’s about as fast as anyone would want. That’s especially true if you use it via 10GBASE-T wired backhauling.
On the downside, the system’s $1300 price tag for a 2-pack can be stiff for many—so is Best Buy’s exclusive $1700 3-pack option—and the combo of high customizability and long restarts can be daunting.
With that in mind, you might want to wait for the price to go down—like previous Asus hardware, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro will likely only get better over time. But if you’ve been saving for a non-compromise mesh system that has (almost) everything, go for it today!
Comprehensive review! Thanks.
I would like to confirm power consumption. 530Wh is quite high, more than five 100w light bulbs. In LA where I live, baseline cost is 30cents/kwh and it will cost me over $1300 a year. 😢
Wrong math, Ernest. $60/year give or take.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro Review
Is the 3 pack being sold by BESTBUY a Pro version?
Thanks
Stanley
I haven’t seen it, Stanley, but my take is that it has to be. However, it’ll likely be slightly different from the official retail version so that the vendor can avoid “price match” etc.
+1 great Preview. But have the same question: Is the ZenWiFi BE30000 Hardware identical to the Zenwifi BQ16 Pro (and this just being the special designation for the Best Buy Exclusive 3-pack)? The specs seem to be the same and there wouldn’t be ‘price matching’ since the 3-pack is unique to BB, right?
It’s been a review since 5/30.
There will be a 3-pack in the standard version. But yes, I’d say the hardware is likely identical as it has to be.
It would be nice if they could make an access point of this model. It seems to dominate in speed over any current Wi-Fi 7 access point.
This model has the AP mode, as a single unit or a mesh.
Dong, thank you for your update, this really helps and confirms most of my assumptions – so kudos for making this real.
The device is still not available across the pond in the EU, via your Asus contacts do you know when it might be available ain EU? and if they will do a 3 pack ? {…}I also read some initial user feedback and it just looks like most have initial frustration in the set-up but once they get through that, it works really well (in most cases)
Read the review, Carlito.
Thinking more about the role of my BE98Pro…What if I reset it as a mesh remote and let the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro act as the main router (at least until firmware improves)? Any thoughts?
That might work if you have wired backhauling or turn MLO off, Bob.
Great review Dong! I pre-ordered the BQ16Pro, hoping to add 2 to mesh with BE98Pro. Saw your cautionary note, and I’ll just use the 2 Zens for now. Your warning surely saved me hours of aggravation! Bravo!
👍
Excited for this one for sure, good to mix with the BE98? Thanks for the in-depth review Dong!
I mentioned that in the review, Joey.
Dong – were you able to get any benchmarks of the performance of this versus the Deco BE85/95?
I am also curious how the thermal performance is – as you mentioned the Deco BE85/95 has a moderately loud fan and heat on its base router.
Is this Asus more silent?
Also did Asus just throw away their entire naming it as BQ16 Pro – because on Best Buy’s site it only says ZenWifi BE30000 with no mention of the BQ16 naming at all.
The full is review is up soon, Perry. 🙂
I just checked out Best Buy’s website, and the 3-pack, which lists for a whopping $1,699, is getting some less-than-stellar customer reviews. Hopefully, Asus will work out the bugs soon.
I have previously bought a ET12 for my son’s home as per your recommendation, and it has performed incredibly in terms of range and speed. I am planning to buy a new Wifi 7 mesh system for my new home this year. Do you think that this BQ16 Pro will be ASUS’s successor to the ET12? Or will there be a further update to ASUS’s mesh lineup that performs even better than the BQ16 Pro, based on your expert opinion?
I am currently considering waiting for ASUS to further update their lineup.
Yes, Nguyen. And eventually there will be something that’s even better than this one. It’s just a matter of time.
So, the 3-pack is showing available now @ BestBuy, and the 2 pack & single router is showing pre-order available on NewEgg, and Amazon is showing not yet available. Nowhere else seems to even be showing it…
It’ll arrive soon enough. 🙂
It’s been available for pre-order from B&H for a few weeks. a couple Best Buys near me have 2-3 of the 3pks in stock now.
Thank you for the new introduction of this router and really look forward to reading your indepth review. I am really interested to learn how is the wireless backhaul performance with 2 6G radios behind few walls . I am living in SF as well, and only wireless backhual is my option is expand the coverage.
It’s likely coming on the last day of this month if not this weekend. 🙂
Hello Dong,
If I buy the BQ16 Pro in the USA, will it works in the Netherlands (Europe)?
Thx.
It would but likely not with all of its bands the way they are intended for the US, etc. I wouldn’t do that on purpose, you might get in trouble
Thank you for your answer. No I don’t want any problems, but is it possible to use only the UNII-5 band? So temporarily disable UNII-6,7 and 8 until Europe gives permission to use the bands up to 7125 Mhz. This decision will probably be made in 2025 and it would be a waste of money to purchase the BQ16 now instead of the BQ16 Pro And as I read your previews, it is a beast of a (mesh) system.
I don’t know, but I think the best case scenario is the firmware would automatically make only the allowed portions of the frequencies work. Or it’d just work like it would in the US and cause you trouble for violating local laws. Or it doesn’t work as intended. Only one way to find out. 🙂
Thank you very much
👍
Thanks Dong for the update. Much appreciated.
Will all of the BQ16 Pro new features you mentioned be available via a firmware update on the GT-BE98 Pro? I am considering using three BE98 Pros together via AiMesh (wired backhaul). I will use the gaming features. I would like the new features you mentioned as well. I want it all of course!
Thanks so much,
Steve
I would say that’s likely the case by the end of the year, Steve, but I’m not Asus. If you intend to use wired backhauling (as you should!) it would make very little difference if at all between the 98 Pro’s current firmware and the future ones.
Thanks Dong. Appreciate it!
One other question: Setting size, aesthetics (wife test), cost, gaming features and Multi-Gig LAN ports aside, are there any real advantages the BQ16 Pro has over the GT-BE98 Pro’s at this point?
Thanks again,
Steve
That’s one I am interested in knowing also, if one knows already. Thanks Dong!
With those out, Steve and Tiago, the two are practically the same.
Thanks Dong,
I so much appreciate your help!
I will wait for your review of the BQ16 Pro in case there are any must haves that pop up. However I am leaning toward the BE98 Pro’s because of their added features, especially if I don’t lose anything compared to the BQ16 Pro.
Also, I can place the BE98 Pro’s discretely so they pass the wife test!
Thanks again. You do such a great job!
Steve
Excellent news! I can’t wait to upgrade my home network. We have the Orbi 852 which has been rather awful for our 2Gbps fiber. Looking forward to your in-depth review, Dong!
👍
Wow! $1,299 for two. That’s pricey and a lot more than their current ZenWifi options. I guess they’re targeting Orbi customers.
I’d say the ZenWiFi lineup is much richer than the Orbi in features alone. But pricey, indeed. Hope it’s worth it.
Well, if I drop $1,299 on a pair of BQ16 Pros, I’m definitely going to be in the dog house for a while. The only way I can see this working for me “budget-wise” is if I can get away with one. 😦
I think there’ll be cheaper variants down the line. Vendors often release the top-tier options first.
Hey Dong,
Do you think it would work great as main router for a XT12 satellite? Thanks!
Nope. Only to an extent.
The non pro version has a 5Ghz band that could be used as a wireless backhaul for the XT12 or am I missing something? thanks.
The X12 doesn’t have MLO, etc. Tiago. Mixing Wi-Fi standard is generally complicated in a wireless setup.
I think we’re getting close. I just checked the ASUS website, and the BQ16 Pro is now listed as Out of Stock and has a price of $699.99 for a set of two, which sounds like a good deal. I also noticed that some ASUS retailers are closing out the ET12, which is typically what’s done before a new model is released.
I’d imagine that’s the price of a single unit, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The website is indicating that the price is for a 2pk, but it does not explicitly say so. 699 does seem a bit low for what it is, but here’s hoping the price is accurate!
🤞
I keep googling to see if there’s anything new on the Asus BQ16 Pro in terms of actually going on sale, but just keep finding this same article (besides Asus’ own content). Hopefully the complete lack of ongoing press about this doesn’t mean it’s canceled or delayed. I figured a Q2 launch would mean we’d be seeing some reviewers getting pre-release versions to test by now, so hopefully at least that much is happening!
🤞
Dong, I’ve been following your reviews for a while, and I appreciate how you explain the networking topics in a clear and accessible way for different levels of expertise. I’ve made a small donation and wanted to express my gratitude.
I haven’t been a fan of Asus devices in the past, I usually preferred to build my own router + FW and use other brands. My first Asus device that I tried out was the Flashnas, which was a very affordable option for nvme (and I was impressed). Then I gave the GT-BE98 a chance and I started to like Asus more (even though there are some features that merlin offers) but it seems that Asus adopts most of those eventually (which makes things easier for me since I don’t have the time to maintain all my custom end points). I like their features, even their privacy to some extent, and I like that they are not going for a subscription model. I’ve been keeping an eye on the BQ16 since last year and reading your reviews… your write-ups are what convinced me to get them and they will be part of my new 10GB wired backbone. I should note that I have a complex 3 storey concrete home and most signals don’t penetrate well (so I’m wired plus have a lot of APs). I’ll be replacing some “not so old devices” that didn’t meet my expectations… I have very high hopes for the BQ16 and I can’t wait to test them soon.
One thing that I’ve been unhappy about Asus is their lack of or almost non-existent “Outdoor AP”. Do you know if they have any plans in this area? Otherwise I’ll have to mix with an Omada EAP670 or go for Ubiquity and then I ponder if Asus is the right choice for me. In an ideal world they would have an Outdoor AP 10GB POE (WIFI6/7) and it doesn’t make sense to me that they don’t have a solution in this area.
Thanks, Carlito…
There’s a new ExpertWiFi family that’s likely will include outdoor APs in the future. I’d keep an eye on it.
Thanks Dong for the excellent info and reviews! I’m eagerly awaiting the BQ16 Pro release, but there seems to be complete radio silence on it since January. We’re limping along with our 7 year old Orbi RBR50 hoping to stretch it to make the release date of the Asus BQ16 Pro. I’ve looked at the TP-link Deco but am concerned about privacy(and features requiring a subscription) and trust Asus more. Have you heard any updates on the BQ16 release date? Am i being too paranoid about TP-link? Thank you for all your insights!
The BQ16 should start shipping soon, Dean. Looks like it’s going to be worth the wait. You’re right to be concerned about privacy, plus the Asus has much more to offer. More on Deco in this post.
Thanks Dong! I really appreciate your answers, and the included references and links to them. It really increase the value of your site!
On Amazon they have a release date for the EU version of April 30th…. Its not the Pro version, which looks to be US only but suspect a similar date.
I’ve been tracking this device since last year….. its is what will form part of my new 10GB wired backbone, replacing some not so old devices that have not been up to the task… my exceptions are super high…
Went to Amazon to order only to see the delivery date range changed to 1 – 3 months
My educated guess is mid-June.
Hi Dong,
I hope you are well. Do you have any updates on the Asus BQ16 Pro and its availability? Do you know if Best Buy will be carrying this item? Thanks!
It’s not out yet, Kelly. The splitting of the 6GHz band is complicated. I think Asus wants to make sure it gets stuff right and not repeat the case of the Deco BE95.
Yeah, that makes sense. Will you be reviewing the Deco BE63? In addition to the soon-to-be-released BQ16 Pro, that’s another W-Fi-7 router I’m considering—especially since I’m limited to a 1GB FIOS connection and the BE63 is available now.
I’m anxious to replace my Synology RT2600AC/MR2200 mesh system, as it really doesn’t meet my needs.
Thanks, Dong.
Likely not but it’s very similar to the Deco BE85, Kelly. I might write a quick take on it later.
Hi Dong,
Thanks for the great insight as always. I live in Asia and wish to know if there is any technical issues (power and electricity issues excluded) if I buy the pro version router with two splitted 6G bands and use it in this region?
Thanks
Bill
That depends on where you are, Bill. I’d recommend getting the hardware intended for your region—often that’s enforced via firmware anyway. More here.
Thanks Dong for your prompt response even at your midnight. I live in Hong Kong and was wondering if I can use the pro version router here technically. If full 6G band is allowed, why a splitted band is not OK? I read your link but it’s about signal strength but not region restriction. Sorry if I understand differently
Is the BestBuy offer a “Pro”?
I am looking to upgrade my 2016 orbi system to something new and up to date. I loved Asus but they did not feature a mesh router at the time and extenders were awful to do a house. Glad to see I am just in time for this new system to drop soon since there latest lineup is like 3 years old now? I would have gone with Orbi again but they are wayyyy to expensive for newer models. I am hoping these are not 1k for 2 like you stated which is my only concern.
Asus has been light years ahead of Orbi for years. You can start with this post.
Dong,
Any idea when these are being released? I need a new router mesh setup now. Considering the Deco BE85 or maybe the XT12 Pro’s? Never had a TP-Link and always been Asus but I do need 3 units.
Only Asus knows but my guess is sometimes in this quarter, David, possibly later this month, David. Stay tuned!
Hi Dong,
Enjoyed all your insightful post! I’m shopping and building my first mesh system for a 4000 sqft house. I have 2.5GB fiber service and want to maximize value and internet coverage around the house as a fully wireless setup. I don’t know if I should invest in cabling to do wiredback haul path. So I just purchased RT-BE6U $650 as primary router and 2x ZenWifi PRO ET12 satellite bought used from Amazon $500. And seems to work ok. My furthest satellite is about 50ft away and upstairs from the router which is down stairs, and I’m getting about 1.1Gb upload and 1.3Gb upload 6ping 1 Jitter. Curious what you think!? Should I keep this setup or consider these cool new wifi7 mesh/routers ? 🤔
Unless you’re happy with the current performance, get your place wired, Ori. More details in this post.
Hi Dong, great review. Thanks for the update. I purchased, but I haven’t opened, an Asus ET12 based on your excellent review and recommendation. I intended to use two ET12s in a wired-backhaul configuration over Cat5e wiring.
One thing I really wanted was a TimeMachine backup solution. Unfortunately, and as you know, the ET12 doesn’t have a USB port, but the BQ16 Pro does. Given the fact that the BQ16 Pro pricing may be similar to what I paid, do you think I should hold off a few months and get the BQ16 Pro instead? My existing Synology RT2600 with (2) MR2200 is performing well, aside from the 8 Nest Battery Cams I have, but that may be a Google Nest firmware problem.
This is not a review, Kelly, not yet. I think it makes sense for you to wait and upgrade to Wi-Fi 7. Also, you might want to read this post on smart devices.
The 1 gig ports are a shame at this price point. The lack of SFP+ too. I currently use 2 XT8 at home. I work from home and need some devices to run through VPN at times and others not. My ISP has SFP+. Right now I use a media converter. With this setup which WiFi 7 system would you recommend? Our work laptops are MacBook Pros so Ethernet is out :(. The fiber port is completely on the other side of the apartment, so a mesh might be better, or a very strong WiFi router.
Get the UDM-SE and a couple of UniFi AP, Max. Or you can go with the Deco BE85.
Hopefully we get more specs.
Curious though how many devices would be supported. Would it be 200+ like TP Link?
I’ve always been a huge ASUS fan and had to move on from the AC3100 to the XE75 Pro because I have over 100 connections. The TP Link sucks.
I’ve been waiting for this announcement. I can’t hardwire my home so I’m at the mercy of a wireless dedicated backhaul.
The single point routers always have a better processor and more Ram so curious to see what this one will have as I’m waiting for the BQ16 Pro.
The only thing I question is…
Better to get this BQ16 Pro or buy two BE98 Pro’s and link through AI Mesh.
My home is really large (6000sqft including basement) and then I want outdoor coverage and well. While I need the coverage, I need very good speed (I know hard to do without the wired backhaul).
Any recommendations?
The number of devices is generally always 253, Randy — more here. The number given out by vendors are just pure marketing. Wired backhauling is the only way for your case, but that depends on what you want/expect. More in this post.
There is a third model BT10 which is better as it will not only be cheaper, but also have no band-splitting complicated nonsense.
Yeap, there will be more options in the new Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi BE series.
I may not be the intended market for this (regular home setup with 50 or so always connected devices and 4 gamers in home; wired back haul) but I feel like the 2 5ghz bands is “currently” the better choice and I wish that version was also coming to the US.
Not really, Mr. T. More in this post on Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Let me clarify…. I feel the (2.4 + 5 + 5 + 6) of the non-pro version is better for most homes vs the pros’ ( 2.4 + 5 + 6 + 6) as there are still not that many clients capable of 6ghz in most homes.
I didn’t misunderstand you, Mr. T. Give the post I linked earlier a good read.
Thanks Dong for keeping us informed. Much appreciated. I might have gone for this set, but probably not since it doesn’t have all Multi-Gig ports. Like you I am disappointed.
I hear you, Steve. A good network switch will fix that, tho.
Thanks for the update, Dong. I’m with Steve on this one – Asus should have added 2.5 Gig ports. I am eagerly awaiting your full review.
Yeap, Balajee. That’s what the “almost” notion is meant to convey.